Women's Basketball

Women’s Basketball Ivy Opener at Yale to be Televised Live on YES Network

Jan 14, 2011

Providence, RI- The Brown University women's basketball team (4-10) will start its quest for an Ivy League championship at 7 p.m. on Friday night when it challenges the Yale University Bulldogs (4-10) in New Haven. The game will be televised on the YES Network, and live video and live stats will also be provided on Yalebulldogs.com.

After a 20-day layoff due to exams and the holidays, the Bears returned to action on Dec. 29-30 at the Hawk Holiday Classic and then hosted both Buffalo and NJIT at the Pizzitola Sports Center. The Bears went just 1-3 in its first week back, defeating Monmouth 75-71, and are looking to snap their three-game skid on Friday against the Bulldogs.

THE BEARS

Sophomore guard Sheila Dixon is leading the Bears this season averaging 10.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game starting in all 14 contests. She has led Brown in scoring in five games this season and has been Brown's leading rebounder six times. Also averaging double-figures for the Bears is rookie point guard Lauren Clarke with 10.5 points and junior captain Hannah Passafuime with 10.2 per game.

Brown's stingy three-point field goal defense currently ranks first in the Ivy League and 16th overall in the country as they've held opponents to just .254 percent from beyond the arc. Opponents have attempted 291 trey's and have netted just 74 against the Bears defense.

THE BULLDOGS

The Bulldogs return seven letterwinners, including four starters from a team which finished 13-15 overall and earned an 8-6 mark in the Ivy League for fourth place. Picked to finish fourth in the Ivy League Preseason Media Poll, Yale is currently being led by sophomore guard Megan Vasqeuz with 13. 6 points-per-game, and senior forward Mady Gobrecht with 11.6. Vasquez has been Yale's leading scorer in eight of 14 games this season and ranks third in the Ivy League in scoring.

Second Team All-Ivy selection Michelle Cashen leads the rebounding effort with 6.7 per game to rank fourth in the Ivy League, while Gobrecht follows close behind at 4.9.

THE SERIES

Brown and Yale are meeting for the 71st time today and Brown leads the all-time series 42-28. However, Yale leads 15-18 at games at the John J. Lee Amphitheater, including three wins in the last four games.

UP NEXT

The Bears will finish the home-and-home series with Yale next Friday, Jan. 21 in a 7 p.m. game at the Pizzitola Sports Center.